Subject: Cognition

Microbiota and stress: a loop that impacts memory

Narjis Kraimi, Flore Lormanta, Ludovic Calandreau, Florent Kempf, Olivier Zemb, Julie Lemarchand, Paul Constantin, Céline Parias, Karine Germain, Sylvie Rabot, Catherine Philippe, Aline Foury, Marie-Pierre Moisan, Anaïs Vitorino Carvalho, Vincent Coustham, Hugues Dardente, Philippe Velge, Thierry Chaumeil, Christine Leterrier

Published in 2021

Scientific paper showing that there is a feed-forward loop system in Japanese quail linking the microbiota-gut-brain axis to stress and memory function. It suggests that maintaining a healthy microbiota may help to alleviate memory problems associated with chronic stress.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Brain integration, Memory, Microbiota, Stress

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Once bitten, twice shy: Aggressive and defeated pigs begin agonistic encounters with more negative emotions

Lucy Oldham, Gareth Arnott, Irene Camerlink, Andrea Doeschl-Wilson, Marianne Farish, Francoise Wemelsfelder, Simon P. Turner

Published in 2021

Scientific paper evaluating the expression of emotions by pigs during agonistic encounters and listing the behavioural indicators that are associated with an aggressive character and a history of agonistic encounters in pigs.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Cognitive processes, Memory, Learning, training, Stress, Welfare indicators

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How Happy Are Equine Athletes? Stakeholder Perceptions of Equine Welfare Issues Associated with Equestrian Sport

Tamzin Furtado, Liane Preshaw, Jo Hockenhull, Jennifer Wathan, Janet Douglas, Sue Horseman, Rebecca Smith, Danica Pollard, Gina Pinchbeck, Jan Rogers Carol Hall

Published in 2021

Scientific article providing the views of equestrian sportsmen and women and of animal welfare researchers on the current welfare violations in equestrian sport. Respondents emphasised the conflict between the demands of competition and the psychological needs of horses, and were of the view that efforts to improve welfare should focus on training. They considered existing welfare assessment tools to be ill-suited to the real-life conditions of training and competition.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Learning, training, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in accredited zoos and aquariums

Lisa K. Lauderdale, Jill D. Mellen, Michael T. Walsh, Douglas A. Granger, Lance J. Miller

Published in 2021

Scientific review presenting the results of the Cetacean Welfare Study's research "Towards Understanding Cetacean Welfare in Zoos and Aquariums". The results include the definition of reference ranges and species-specific values for blood variables and fecal hormone metabolites to assess welfare, information that is available free of charge via an iOS app.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Mammals

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Enrichment, Human-animal relationships, Learning, training, Societal issues, Welfare indicators

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Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, and Animal Welfare: A History of Behavior Analysis in Zoos

Eduardo J. Fernandez, Allison L. Martin

Published in 2021

Scientific review describing the history of the emergence of reward-based husbandry training practices and environmental enrichment engineering in zoos. It suggests ways to continue to improve welfare in zoos using behavioural analysis.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Enrichment, Human-animal relationships, Learning, training, Societal issues, Welfare indicators

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A Systematic Review of the Use of Technology to Monitor Welfare in Zoo Animals: Is There Space for Improvement?

Alessia Diana, Marina Salas, Zjef Pereboom, Michael Mendl, Tomas Norton

Published in 2021

Scientific review of the value of real-time automated monitoring systems in assessing the welfare of zoo animals as a complement to direct observations by specialists. The field is still very new, and is limited to behavioural measurements taken from large mammals.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Learning, training, Precision farming, Societal issues, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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Animal-Based Indicators for On-Farm Welfare Assessment in Goats

Adrian Minnig, Romane Zufferey, Beat Thomann, Sibylle Zwygart, Nina Keil, Gertraud Schüpbach-Regula, Raymond Miserez, Dimitri Stucki, Patrik Zanolari

Published in 2021

Scientific review article identifying 32 animal-based welfare indicators and 3 assessment protocols to evaluate the welfare of intensively-farmed dairy goats.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Caprines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Human-animal relationships, Welfare indicators

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The Five Domains model and promoting positive welfare in pigs

N.J.Kells

Published in 2021

Scientific review article reminding readers of the 5 elements of the 5 domains model and describing how the model has changed to take account of scientific advances on the understanding, assessment and improvement of animal welfare, with a focus on pigs.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Human-animal relationships, Welfare indicators

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Donkey behaviour and cognition: a literature review

Marta De Santis, Samanta Seganfreddo, Morgana Galardi, Franco Mutinelli, Simona Normando, Laura Contalbrigo

Published in 2021

Scientific review summarising the areas covered by the scientific literature on donkey behaviour and cognition, and detailing the behavioural tests used for donkeys.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships,Welfare indicators

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